Lever-lock.



C. R. SAUNDERS.

LEVER LOOK.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.23, 1909.

1,1 38,795. Patented May 11, 1915.

. 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. R. SAUNDERS.

LEVER LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED nzc.23.19o9.

1,1 38,795 Patented May 11, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- I enact description, re

CHARLES R. SAUNDERS, O1 CLEVELAND, OHIO.

LEVER-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Intent.

Patented Mayl 1 1915.

Application filed December 83, 1909. Serial No. 534,668.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES R. SAUNDERS, acitizen of the United- States, residing at Cleveland, in the county ofCuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Lever-Locks, of which the following is a full, clear, and

erence being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to locks, and more especially to a form of lockwhich is particularly well adapted for use with automobiles to lock theoperating levers thereof in dead position.

The objects of this invention are generally to provide a lock of thiskind which is comparatively economical of production, eiiicient inoperation, and which is particularly well adapted for use with difierentmakes bf automobiles.

The invention may be defined further and generally as consisting of thecombinations of-elements embodied in the claims hereto annexed andillustrated in the drawings forming a part hereof, wherein- Figure 1represents a perspective view of a locking devlce constructed inaccordance with my invention and, illustrating the manner of applyingthe same to the operating. lover of an automobile; Fi 2 an elevation ofthe lockin device s owing its lever in the position w ich it occupieswhen not in use, the lever being shown in section; Fig. 3 represents aplan view of the. locking device; and Fig. 4 a view, partly in sectionand partly in side elevation, of the locking device shown in Fig. 3.

The embodiment of my invention disclosed herein comprises generally awhich may be attached to any convenient part of an automobile, a trackor guideway rotatably supported bn said base, and a lever recirprocablysupported by saidtrack or gui eway and swlveled thereto, the lever bemgprovided with means whereby it may be attached to and detached from theoperating lever for the automobile, withaneans whereby the lever may beretained in and out of operative relation to the operating lever. v

Describing the parts by reference characters, 1 represents the bottomand 2 the wooden rail usually provided at the side en'- trance of'anautomobile. 7

3 represents the'operating lever of the automobile and 4 the guide frameor quadrant for said lever. This guide frame is shown as located outsideof the body proper of the automobile and is provided with two segmentalslots 5 and 6 connected by a gate l, as is usual. As is well known, whenthe operating lver is in the gate intermediate between the segmentalslots 5 and 6, the engine shaft is disconnected from the drive shaft,the lever being in dead position.

A locking device constructed in accordance with my invention is shown assecured to the rail 2. This device comprises a base 8, a track orgnideway 9 swiveled to said base, and a locking arm 10 adjustable alongthe track or guieway and rotatably supported with respect thereto, withmeans for retaining the locking arm in any desired position withreference to said track or guideway and a lock proper for securing theouter end of the locking arm to the operating lever. The base 8 isconveniently formed as an mtegral casting which is generally rectangularin she e and is provided with two palrs of upwar ly projecting prongs 11and 12, located about 90 degrees apart. The bottom. of the base 8 isprovided with a suitable bottom web 13 by means of which the base may bebolted or otherwise firmly secured to an appropriate portion of theautomobile body. The base is provided with an upper web 14 having acircular opening 15. It also has formed therewith, surrounding theopening 15, an upwardly projecting wall 16 providing a circular bearingtherewithin.

For convenience of description, that portion of the base having theprongs 11 will be referred to as the front. The wall 16 is thickened atthe front of the base, for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

' The guideway'9 consists generally of an elongated body, preferably aninte ral casting, having a bottom 17, rear en 18, and sides 19. Achannel 20 is provided in each side above the bottom 17. The front ofthe guideway is open, for the purpose of applyin and removing theswiveled locking arm t oreto. Near its front end, the base is providedwith a downwardly projecting circular boss 21, by means of which theguideway may be journaled within the wall 16.

22 denotes a connecting member having an enlarged base adapted to engagethe under side of the web 14 and a central cylindrical projection 23adapted to extend through the opening 15. By means of a screw 24, theguideway 17 may be connected to the member 22, thereby firmly androtatably securing the guideway to the base. As the locking arm, to bedescribed hereinafter, is itself swiveled to the guideway, it happens inmany instances that there will be no 'occasion for rotating the guidewayon the base. Hence the front end of the guideway may be secured to thethickened front of the wall 16, as by means of a screw 25.

The locking arm 10 has its rear end pivbtally connected to the upper endof the swivel 26. This swivel is provided with .a

rounded base 27 which is adapted to project into the channels 20, thereduced body portion projecting upwardly between the sides of theguideway. The rear end of the locking arm 10 may be conveniently pivotedto the swivel by means of a rivet 28 extending through a slot 29 in thetop of the swivel and through the rear end of the arm.

The locking arm is provided at one side with a plurality of spaced lugs30 and is of such width that, when inserted between the prongs 11, itwill be necessary for one of said prongs to project between a pair ofthese lugs in order to allow the arm to be raised and lowered betweensaid prongs. These lugs are spaced a sufiicient distance to enable thearm to be adjusted in a vertical plane and to be even disengaged fromthe prongs, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. At its front or outer"end, the arm is forked, as shown at 31, and each of the forks haspivoted thereto a finger 32. These fingers are adapted tobe broughttogether -to form with the forks 32 a closed space for the reception ofthe operating lever 3, and the outer end of each finger is provided withan aperture 33 formed in a projection 34. When the fingers are broughtto closed position, these projections abut against each other and theirapertures are adapted to receive the bow 35 of the padlock 36.

The prongs 12 are preferably shorter than the prongs 11 and one of theseprongs 1s provided with a spring 37 which has an outwardly bent portion38 adapted to engage the locking arm 10 when inserted between saidprongs and prevent the arm from being jarred or accidentally thrown outof place.

From the construction described and shown herein, the operation will beclear. The base 8 will be securedto a convenient portion of the body andthe locking arm 10 will be adjusted along the guideway 9 so that itsouter forked end and fingers may receive the operating lever when thelatter is in the gate 7. As the location of the operating lever varieswith different makes of automobiles, this adjustable feature of mylocking device is of great importance, as it adapts my device forpractically all makes of automobiles. WVhen not in use, the arm 10 isfolded upwardly until disengaged from Ordinarily it will not benecessary to ro-fi tate the guideway on the base. With certain makes ofautomobiles, however, the pro ject-ing rear end of the guideway may interfere with the removal of the bottom boards and especially withtthoseboards by the removal of which access may be had to the parts operatedby the foot lever. In such event, the screw 25 may be removed, and theguideway can then be rotated on the base and the locking arm be insertedbetween the prongs 12.

While I have shown my lock as a plied to an operating lever locatedoutsi e the body, it will be apparent that the base may be so positionedas to enable the locking arm to receive an operating lever which may belocated within the body. It will be observed that the screws 24 and 25are in a line extending from the pivot of the arm 10 to the spacebetween the prongs 11. It follows that, when the arm 10 is connected tothe operating lever 3, this arm will cover the screws 24 and 25, andaccess may not be had to either or both of said screws for the purposeof removing the guideway and locking arm from the base, which operationwould permit an unauthorized person to move the operating lever intoeither of the segmental slots 5 and 6 and thus drive the automobile.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a device ofthe character set forth, the combination of a base having upwardlyprojecting prongs, and a locking member adjustably and pivotallysupported from said base, and projecting between said prongs. 1

2. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a basehaving an upwardly projecting pair of prongs, and a locking memberadjustably supported from said base and pivoted to swing verticallybetween said prongs, said member having means adapted to engage theprongs inits various adjusted positions.

In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a base havinga pair of upwardly projecting prongs, a locking member pivot-allysupported from said base, arms pivotally connected to the outer end ofthe locking member, and means for securing 7 the combination of a basehavi ed by said base and adapted to be between said prongs.

5. In a 'device of the chairs of upwardly projecting prongs, ado memberrotatably connected to saidba e adapted to be inserted. between either p1r or" prongs, and a spring co-acting with or of prongs andadapted toretain the in; in place therebetween.

6. .In, a device of the character set the combination of a base having pprongs, a guidevvay pivotaily connected as said base, an arm, a membermount ii said guideway to which said arm is pii'uifi' said member beingrotatably supported said guideway, projections carried by s arm,-saidprojections being spaced to r one of the prongs therehetween, and ksvoperated securing means carried by said arn'i and serving to secure thesame to a member whose movement is to be restrained.

7; In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a basehaving a vertical projection, a locking member adapted to swingvertically and adjustable toward and from said projection, and meanswhereliiy said member may engage said projectirm in its adjustedpositions.

8. In a device of the character set to the combination of a base, aguideway, a p, otal connection between said guide my and said base, abody swiveled in said guideway, a. lobking member pivotally connected tosaid body and adjustable along said guideway and means whereby said mayand member may be retained in adjusted POSltlOHS.

9. In a device of the character forth, the combination of a base memberhaving a web interposed between the top and bottom thereof, said webhaving an e 'aening therethrough, a guideway pivotally mounted abovesaid Web, a locking member ad] ole along said guideway, and a memberhaving a flange beneath said Web and a body p, jecting through theopening in said Web and connected to said guideway.

10. In a device of the character the combination of a base, a meansconnecting said guideway 0 saic base, a pair of prongs carried by saidbase, a member having a support adgustabi mounted in said guideway, saidmember being adapted to cover the connection be tween the guideway andthe base when m serted between said forks, and key operated securingmeans carried by said member and serving to secure the same to a memberwhose movement is to be restrained.

- 11. The combination, with lever, of a base adapted to attached to asui e body fixed with relation to said lev guideway carried by saidbase, an arr a pivotal support for SZtldfii'fi). m-oun i a lover, of a.ijacent thereto,

led by said pivotal supgnid way, at its outer end.

' 1 the ;')ivotal support ntions In t ie guide an)v arm te muons a;

in loci:

a pivoted lever is nmvemt it ofthe g nr r pivctally' mounted to side ofthe plane of arranged to be nation i'rrsaid lever .e moved to deadmovement of said acting; the pivot of said.

14. in a loot: inechmf i tor motor vehiales, conminaiion, with a pivotedcontrolling lever adapted for controlling the movement oi the vehicle,of a base carried by said vehicle at one side out the plane of imiwementof said lever, a locking arm lly ttached to said base and arrangedrative relation to said W has been brought to inon, and means forpreventarm '1': being brought into operafter opera ing said ali erelation said lever at any time except after said arm or lever has beenbrought to cit-position.

in a lock mechanism. for motor vehithe c rnbination, with a pivotedlever adapted filing the movement of the vehicle, a port earried by saidl at one 161mb of the plane of movement of said lever, and a locking armpivoted to its to the @a position of said lever, the pivot of the leverfalling within the plane of movement of said arm said arm nd ie'verbeing arranged for interiitting engagemet-vnt when the latter is inoil'- pcsition and at no other time, and key operated. lockir niechaisin for maintaining said arm in geinent with said lever.

16, In. a lock mechanism for motor vehinibination, with an arm or leverontroliing the movements of a mid arm secured at ens side at u ement ofaid first arm said first lever, means operative after said first arm orlever has been brought to a predetermined position for locking saidsecond arm in engagement therewith, and means preventing said second armfrom being secured to said first arm or lever 'ii'hen the latter is inany other position of adjustment.

17. In a device of the character set forth, the combination, with thecontrolling lever of a self-propelled vehicle, of a securing" armpivoted to said vehicle at a distance from said lever and arranged to beswung into the path of movement of the same, said arm having adjacent toits free end a pair of spaced integral branches adapted to receive saidlever between them when the same is in one position of its adjustment,and means including a padlock adapted to connect together the ends ofsaid branches and to embrace said lever.

18. In a device of the character described, the combination, with thecontrolling lever of a self-propelled vehicle and a fixed base locatedat a distance therefrom, of a securing arm swingingly attached to saidbase and arranged to be swung so as to intersect the path of movement ofsaid lever, the free end of said arm having a pair of spaced integralbranches adapted to receive said lever between them when the same is inone position of its adjustment, one of said branches having a linkpivoted to the end thereof and means including a padlock adapted toconnect the end of said link with the end of the,

